Your IoT project faces security risks from a third-party vendor. How can you safeguard your innovation?

Choose suppliers that have a strong reputation for security practices and a track record in the market. Conduct security audits to verify that regulatory compliance practices are being applied.

I work with a number of third-party vendors in IoT, it's super important to do your homework first. Check out their security policies, see how they've handled incidents in the past. Case studies are valuable.. as is talking to other companies that use them about what it is like to work with them. Similar to calling references in a hiring process. It’s a good idea to ask for detailed docs. And if you really want to be thorough, consider getting an independent security lab to evaluate them. It’ll give you extra peace of mind knowing you’re working with someone who’s got their security game on point!

Check beyond their security policies and other artifacts, as anyone, can easily pass off a downloaded template as their own. Try a more proactive approach. Use open source intelligence (OSINT) to investigate the vendor's history, looking for any previous security events or issues documented in public records, news stories, or online forums. Investigate customer feedback to find any mentions of security issues. Monitor the dark web for vendor mentions, as this may expose previously unknown vulnerabilities or breaches. Finally, analysing the vendor's website for vulnerabilities can provide significant insights into their security practices. Combining these tactics gives you a more realistic understanding of the vendor's security policies.

One thing I've found helpful when tackling security risks in IoT projects, especially when dealing with third-party vendors, is rigorous vendor vetting. Did you know that 60% of companies experience a data breach caused by third-party vendors? That’s why vendor vetting isn’t just a checkbox—it’s a deep dive into understanding who you’re partnering with. Start by examining their security practices, reviewing their past performance, and ensuring they meet your industry’s compliance standards. It's a proactive way to mitigate risks before they even arise.

One time at work, we faced a potential security threat that made us rethink our approach to secure contracts. It’s not just about signing on the dotted line; it’s about crafting contracts that clearly define security expectations and liabilities. Include clauses that require vendors to maintain a high level of security and provide indemnity against breaches. According to research, 90% of data breaches could be prevented by implementing stronger contractual agreements. Your contract should be your first line of defense.

While it's crucial to have strong security requirements in a contract to ensure accountability, it's important not to rely solely on the contract to keep your systems secure. Vendors often weigh the cost of meeting security requirements against the potential risk, and if the cost is too high compared to the perceived risk, they might choose to accept the penalties rather than fully comply. That's why it's essential to "trust but verify." Regularly monitor and assess the vendor's security practices beyond what's outlined in the contract to ensure they truly meet your standards.

Projetos de software + hardware de maneira geral tem as interfaces entre os componentes pouco controladas - do ponto de vista de impedir a compreens?o do que está atrás da porta e filtrar o que passa em cada porta. Se você prestar mais aten??o neste ponto, vai minimizar muito o risco de vazamento ou falha de seguran?a. Isso vai incrementar um pouco mais de custos, e talvez você n?o fará isso na primeira vers?o do seu produto, mas inclua esfor?o para isso no roadmap antes que seja tarde demais.

In my experience, access control is often overlooked, yet it’s one of the most critical aspects of safeguarding innovation. Implementing strict access controls ensures that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive information. For instance, 80% of breaches involve privileged access misuse. By limiting vendor access to only what’s necessary, you’re not just controlling who sees what—you’re significantly reducing your risk exposure.

One thing I've found helpful in maintaining the integrity of IoT projects is continuous monitoring. You can’t just set it and forget it—especially with third-party vendors in the mix. Regular monitoring allows you to detect anomalies early, assess ongoing risks, and respond before they escalate. According to a study, continuous monitoring can reduce security incidents by 40%. It's about staying vigilant and ensuring that your security measures evolve as new threats emerge.

Leverage intelligent technology to handle the heavy lifting in monitoring your systems. Automated tools can detect malicious activity in real-time, allowing you to respond quickly and effectively. This approach saves time and ensures that potential threats are identified and addressed before they can cause significant harm. Let technology do the hard work so you can focus on strategic decision-making.

If you’re working on an IoT project, staying ahead of security is super important. Make sure all your devices, especially those from third-party vendors, are regularly updated with the latest security patches. It’s like giving your tech a fresh coat of armor! Set up a simple routine for applying these updates and check in with your vendors to ensure they’re on it too. New vulnerabilities pop up all the time, so keeping everything current is one of the best ways to fend off threats.

In vulnerability management, the key is to scan, scan, and scan again. Regularly using vulnerability scanning tools ensures that updates and other security measures are correctly implemented. These tools also help you prioritise actions, making managing and addressing vulnerabilities easier before they become serious issues. By continuously scanning, you can stay on top of potential threats and maintain a strong security posture.

Solu??es de IoT de maneira geral s?o pontos fracos de seguran?a. Todos os seus planos de a??o para incidentes de seguran?a devem contemplar essas solu??es de forma primordial, pois elas podem ter um grande impacto em opera??es ou em processos que suportam diretamente as opera??es. Por exemplo, se seu time de produ??o depende dos dados de uma plataforma de IoT para fazer o planejamento do dia seguinte, e você tiver sofrido algum downtime nessa aplica??o, você pode estar colocando em risco toda ou boa parte da sua produtividade fabril do dia seguinte. N?o é algo que possa ser ignorado.